'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear'

[mkrnhr]

'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear': Man trapped in 23-year 'coma' reveals horror of being unable to tell doctors he was conscious

_http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1230092/Rom-Houben-Patient-trapped-23-year-coma-conscious-along.html

A car crash victim has spoken of the horror he endured for 23 years after he was misdiagnosed as being in a coma when he was conscious the whole time.

Rom Houben, trapped in his paralysed body after a car crash, described his real-life nightmare as he screamed to doctors that he could hear them - but could make no sound.

'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear,' said Mr Houben, now 46, who doctors thought was in a persistent vegatative state.

'I dreamed myself away,' he added, tapping his tale out with the aid of a computer.

Only a re-evaluation of his case at the University of Liege discovered that he had lost control of his body but was still fully aware of what was happening.

Dr Laureys's new study claims that patients classed as in a vegetative state are often misdiagnosed.

:O

 

[Marcus-Aurelius]

:O This is terrible! Can't imagine what feelings he come accross during these 23 years.
The small seconds when I am unable to control my body just before waking up used to greatly annoy me in the past, so I can't imagine what I whould have felt if I was in such situation for 23 years, with all people around me unable to help.

 

[Tigersoap]

What I find amazing is that he did not go mad ?!
How can you live in this state for so long, I am really curious about how he managed to do it...

"'I dreamed myself away,' he added, tapping his tale out with the aid of a computer."

I can't imagine what it must be like...

 

[mkrnhr]

Yes, it is terrible. It reminds me of those sleep paralysis moments. They last a few seconds but they are so terrible!
Reminded of that every time I listen to "brain damage" by pink floyd when they say "you shout but noone seems to hear"
terrible :o

 

[Adaryn]

Yes, it is terrible. It reminds me of those sleep paralysis moments. They last a few seconds but they are so terrible!
Reminded of that every time I listen to "brain damage" by pink floyd when they say "you shout but noone seems to hear"
terrible :o

Poor man, this must have been HELL.
Oh yes, sleep paralysis is horrible. I remember once, I was thinking that I was awake but I was still "dreaming". I was trying to get out of my bed, and each time I tried to get up, I was brought back, trapped in the body. It was like being caught in a loop. Extremely unpleasant and freaky :O
And I have had many dreams where I tried to scream or call for help but no sound came out.
I haven't had sleep paralysis for a while now. So much the better!

 

[Zadius Sky]

Poor man, this must have been HELL.
Oh yes, sleep paralysis is horrible. I remember once, I was thinking that I was awake but I was still "dreaming". I was trying to get out of my bed, and each time I tried to get up, I was brought back, trapped in the body. It was like being caught in a loop. Extremely unpleasant and freaky :O
And I have had many dreams where I tried to scream or call for help but no sound came out.
I haven't had sleep paralysis for a while now. So much the better!

I've had sleep paralysis years ago, and it was frightening in itself. And, I cannot imagine one being in such state for 23 years. Horrible.

This is up on SoTT:

Conscious Man 'in Coma' for 23 Years

 

[theos]

What I find amazing is that he did not go mad ?!
How can you live in this state for so long, I am really curious about how he managed to do it...

I find this incredible as well. It seems that he would have just perished from lonliness and frustration. Oh, the relief he must feel now.

 

[Third_Density_Resident]

You know, it boggles the mind what horrible things are possible in this 3D universe of ours. When I read that story I was gobsmacked. He would have been far better off in a coma.

 

[bedower]

Reading this story brought to mind Terri Shiavo, and the fact that her mother kept insisting she was still alive.

It's unimaginable what Rom Houben must have experienced. 23 years? The mind boggles!

 

[Mountain Crown]

Reading this story brought to mind Terri Shiavo, and the fact that her mother kept insisting she was still alive.

It's unimaginable what Rom Houben must have experienced. 23 years? The mind boggles!

Nice to hear from you again bedower. :)

 

[Snow]

his story reminds me of the horror stories of people, who get a general anaesthetic for surgery, but due to a fluke, although completely paralyzed, remain conscious and still feel everything! Like him they scream but nobody hears. They have to endure the entire surgery without a working anaesthetic...

Like 3D Resident said: it boggles the mind how horrible this 3D existence can be...

 

[Bluestar]

Oh My! This is unimaginable. My heart goes out to this man and all that may be in a similar position. Very scary. Thank goodness this Dr. came along and discovered this mans plight. 23 years!!!

Having several of those paralysis moments in my life, it is very scary indeed. At times I could see the whole room, but my eyes were closed. Concentrating on my little toe, trying to move it. Eventually being able to move it, and wake up.

 

[Vulcan59]

Truly a 23 year nightmare. On searching for similar stories, I came across premature burial where the person is buried in the mistaken belief or diagnosis that he/she is dead!!

 

[Gawan]

Reading this story brought to mind Terri Shiavo, and the fact that her mother kept insisting she was still alive.

It's unimaginable what Rom Houben must have experienced. 23 years? The mind boggles!

Nice to hear from you again bedower. :)

Definitely.
Great to have you around again, bedower.

Dr Laureys's new study claims that patients classed as in a vegetative state are often misdiagnosed.

That's really sad.

 

[Oxajil]

Reading this story brought to mind Terri Shiavo, and the fact that her mother kept insisting she was still alive.

It's unimaginable what Rom Houben must have experienced. 23 years? The mind boggles!

Nice to hear from you again bedower. :)

Definitely.
Great to have you around again, bedower.

Same here! :D

That's really sad.

Indeed. I honestly think a lot of patients are (being) misdiagnosed, no matter what happened/is happening to them.
That really makes me sad. I hope I can make a ''small'' difference in that in the future.

One mistake or misdiagnose can cause a lot of trouble, even a living Hell, that's why it's so important to Know what one is doing. Especially when it's about the health of another. I sometimes have the feeling that many people in the ''medicine'' world just don't care that much.

My friend's cousin, who was born this year at 13 February died just a few weeks ago, because he was suffering from a rare ''medical condition''. The doctors just didn't know at first what it was and there was so much time lost etc.
When it was known what it was, or when they had an idea of what it was, there was one neurologist telling her sister (mother of the child) all the time: ''Why do you continue feeding the baby? Just let him die.''
It is said that people with this condition die at a young age. I think it's very inappropriate to say such a thing. And she alone was not the only one who was not friendly, there were many walking around.

Some people in the ''medicine world'' just don't care (anymore)...